When A Leader Gets it Right…

My interview with senior pastor, Tri Robinson, who willingly handed over his position and inspired the church to a greater work.

Leaders don't always get it right. But sometimes, they do. And when they do, we would do well to learn from them.

So when, a few months ago, I spoke to a women's group from Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Boise, Idaho, and they told me of healthy things that were happening in their body because of the leadership of their pastor, I listened.

Tri Robinson, senior pastor for 23 years and birther of this 22 acre, 2500 member campus in the heart of Boise, had no intention of doing anything but continuing the work when God spoke to his heart and told him to start raising up his successor, a younger pastor to take over leadership that Tri, himself, would eventually work for.

Tri was 57, at the time. He is now nearly 65 and a week and half ago, just made the official transition.

Heartened by the news of a pastor more interested in Kingdom work than personal agenda...pro-actively handing over his position rather than being asked to retire or leave based on age or scandal, I asked Tri if I could pick his brain. It was my hope that Tri's story might inspire other pastors/leaders to follow his example of humility, discernment, prayer, and healthy leadership. What I did not know is how much his words would personally inspire me.

Tri Robinson is a leader who got it right.

The following is an excerpt from our conversation. *

LW: Tri, what made you realize this was a healthy move for your church - to begin to raise up your successor so many years before it was time for you to transition out?

TR: The truth is, at 57, when God prompted me about doing this; I was full of energy and had no intention of retiring. But God knew what He was doing, because at almost 65 I feel differently. I don't look at it as passing the baton. I see it as lighting one torch from another so both stay burning. In the church world, we are on the verge of an epidemic where baby boomers are out of their run and don't know it until it's too late. I want to home grow my own guy, take my time and do it well, and that's what we have done.

LW: We all have human emotions and the tendency to become attached to our roles in life, especially ones we are so personally invested in. How were you able to put your own feelings aside for the greater good of the church and the work?

TR: My whole adult life was spent building a 22 acre campus of ministry and when you do that, the tendency is to enjoy it and ride it out. And yes, you become attached to that and all that goes with it. So identity is an issue you have to die to in order to be willing to do what God asks.

Additionally, I had always preached to my people to live the adventure, live out a radical faith, and I knew I had to do it, myself. I literally said to myself, I never want to lose the stepping out onto a limb in the unknown way of faith like I did when I started Vineyard Boise 25 years ago. This has been a deliberate process, yet it has been God-ordained and organic and taken on greater things than I could have planned for or expected.

I had to die to the idea that I could no longer cast vision for the church, but realize at the same time that being a visionary didn't die, it just changed. In my new role of heading up the ministry of i-61 [an international ministry of justice and compassion to the extreme poor] I would be casting vision within a ministry of the church, and that was also good.

LW: How has this pro-active relinquishment of your role as lead pastor affected you, personally and positively, in unexpected ways, and how has it positively impacted the church?

TR: It positively affected us both. It's given me a whole new lease on life, honestly. I have a second wind and a vision I hadn't had for years in my senior pastor position. And it forced the church to see beyond ourselves and grasp the bigger vision - the Kingdom vision. It gave our people confidence that good leadership in the church does exist and caused all of us to be unselfish. This kind of thing takes away from the consumerist church mentality, which is so important.

LW: What is 1 piece of counsel you would give a pastor/leader for pro-actively embracing change or transition?

TR: Not to sound hyper religious, but you have to hear God and trust Him and follow through with it. I would tell older pastors to do it before you are asked to leave or before you're tired, because doing it right - making a transition - takes time and energy.

LW: Tri, I consider you to be a healthy leader. What do you think makes for healthy church leadership?

TR: I have a sign that hangs on my barn that says "Quaerite Primum Regnum," which is Latin for Seek First the Kingdom. It was actually inspired by the one posted on the Hat Creek Cattle Company in the classic TV mini-series, Lonesome Dove. It sounds cliché, but it really is the key to everything, as leaders. If we really believe it we will put our security aside, knowing that God will take care of us. The church has to get to the point where we do the best thing for the Kingdom and not for ourselves. In that, we will find vision and fresh wind, like maybe never before.

*To read more of this interview about church leadership transition, including identifying obstacles, pushing through opposition, and how to get a group of people engaged in your vision when it requires hard change, visit Lisa's blog at www.lisawhittle.com.